Buckle.



A. VAN DUZER;

l BUCKLE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.25, 1910.

967,588.. l Patented Aug. 16,1910.

ALBERT VAN DUZER, OF LOLETA, CALIFORNIA.

BUCKLE.`

Specification of Letters Patent;` Patented Aug. 16, 1910.

Application filed January25, 1910. Serial No. 540,005.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT VAN DUZER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Loleta, in the county of Humboldt and State of California, have invented a new and useful Buckle, ofwhich the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide a buckle adapted to firmly hold a strap end, the construction being such that the strap end may readilybe inserted into the buckle and held therein, and, with equal facility be removed therefrom when desired.

Another object of the invention is so to construct the buckle that the strap end may be slid with accuracy and precision, to a position wherein it may be gripped by the holding portions of the device.

Another object of the invention is to construct a buckle in which, when desired, the strap may be held by a double grip, the strap being engaged at spaced points.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafterA described, delineated in` the accompanying drawings andspecifically claimed, it being understood, that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes may be made, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein similar numerals of reference are employed to denote corresponding parts,-Figure 1 is a longitudinal section; iig. 2 is a transverse section upon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, parts being in elevation. Fig. 3 is a top plan, the straps being removed; Fig.4isaperspective of a modiiied form of the invention; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the device shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a bottom plan of the device shown in Fig. 4, the straps being removed.

The fundamental element of the device consists of a iiat plate 1, provided, adjacent one end, with an opening 2, through which one end of a strap is adapted to be looped, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The plate 1, adjacent its opposite end, is notched, as denoted by the numeral 3, to define in the said end of the plate, spaced arms 4. From these "arms 4, ears 5 rise, substantially atA right angles to the plane of the plate l. The extremities of a bar 6, preferably circular in cross section, are rigidly mounted in the ears 5, the bar 6 being extended across .the space between the arms 4, tovdefne an `opening tlnough the buckle, bounded upon lone side by the bar G, andupon the opposite side by the base 7 of the notch 3 whereby the arms 4 `are formed, the said base 7 ofthe notch being beveled, as clearly shown in the drawings.

Slidably mounted upon the plate 1, between the ears 5, is a keeper 8; Adjacent one end, this keeper 8 isV provided with an aperture 9, which, when the keeper S is slid longitudinally of the plate l, is adapted to be alined with the opening through the buckle, the edge of the'aperture 9 in the keeper corresponding to the base 7' of the notch 3 of the plate l, being beveled as denoted by the numeral 10, to correspond with the bevel ofthe base 7 of the notch, so that the end of the notch 3 and the beveled portion 10 of the aperture 9 in the keeper, mayv `form a cont1nuous,inclined wall.

In order that the base 7 ofthe notch and the portion 10 of the keeper' maybe brought .into alinement, lugs 11 outstand from one end of the keeper 8, said lugs being arrangedto engage the extremities of the arms `4 and to engage the upstanding ears 5, to

aline the portions 7 and 10 as aforesaid. By thus alining the portions 7 and 10, and by beveling them in a common plane, the strap may readily be inserted through the aper ture 9, between the arms 4, in which position, as hereinafter pointed out, the strap may be engaged when the keeper 8 is slid.

In order to prevent the keeper 8 from falling from between the ears 5, the said keeper is provided with lugs 12 corresponding in shape to the lugs 11. Upon its upper side, the keeper 8 is provided with an inclined face, having notches or teeth 14, and, adjacent the lugs 12, the keeper is provided with an opening 15.

The operation of the device as thus far described is as follows: The strap end which is engaged by the buckle, is passed up- Wardly, between the arms `4, and through the aperture 9 in the keeper, the lugs l1 having been brought into contact with the ears 5, so that the beveled portions 7 and 10 are alined, there being, in such case, an opening extending entirely through the buckle, and located between the bar 6 and that end of the plate 1 defined by the edge 7. When the strap is thus positioned, if the strap is drawn upon, the keeper 8 will slide beneath the bar 6, the teeth 14 of the keeper S engaging between themselves and the bar 6, the strap end, firmly binding the said strap end against withdrawal.

If desired, the strap end, having been passed through the aperture 9 in the keeper, may be passed through the opening 15 therein, and, downwardly, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, through the opening 2 in the plate 1. Vhen the strap is drawn upon and the keeper 8 slid, the strap will be bound, not only between the portions 14 of the keeper and the bar 6, but, as well, between oneV wall 16 of the opening 15 in the keeper, and the oppositely disposed wall 17 of the opening 2in the plate 1, thus causing the buckle to exercise a double grip upon the strap end.

The foregoing device is adapted to be used ipon trunk straps, driving reins and the In Figs. 4 to 6 of the drawings, I have shown a slight modification of the invention, the essential features of the hereinbefore described form being retained. The device shown in Figs. 4 to 6 is adapted to be used upon Suspenders, one end of the webbing of the Suspenders being looped through the opening 2 in the plate, one end of the webbing being carried beneath the bar 6 and through an opening 19 in the keeper 18, this keeper 18 having an inclined face 21, which replaces the teeth 14 of the device shown in Fig. 1, the keeper 18 having upon its upper end only, outstanding lugs 20, adapted t0 aline the parts of the buckle as described in connection with the device displayed in Fig.

1. To manipulate the buckle shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the keeper 18 is depressed whereupon the webbing may be slid freely beneath the bar 6, thus adjusting the length of the suspenders. When the desired adjustment has been procured, the webbing may be released, whereupon the webbing will draw the keeper 1S upwardly, into the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, firmly binding the webbing between the keeper and the bar 6, and preventing further movement.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is A buckle comprising a plate having a notch at one end, delining spaced arms pro vided with upstanding ears; a bar terminally supported by the ears and extended across the space between the arms to define an opening through the buckle bounded upon one side by the bar and upon the opposite side by the base of the notch; and a keeper mounted upon the plate beneath the bar and having an aperture arranged to be alined with the notch, there being upon the keeper, a lug engageable by one of the ears, to aline the aperture in the keeper with the notch, the keeper being slidable to wedge a strap between itself and the bar.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT VAN DUZER.

Witnesses:

L. E. MAHAN, J. I. MAHAN. 

